Bare feet

I received a call on Wednesday night that blessed my socks off. It was from a young women named Crystal. God caused our paths to cross around 6-7 years ago. She was hired to wait tables at THE BARN restaurant, where I am a waitress. (one of my part time jobs) As we ate together the first time we worked together, we discovered we lived about a mile apart. (With it being 18 miles one way car pooling was a no brainer). I started picking her up when we worked together, and a friendship was born. She was young, newly married and pregnant. The first thing I remember doing for her was her dishes. They had bought a house that was empty for several years and there was water problems, When they finally got the water fixed they had several days of dirty dishes, So I went down and helped her clean her kitchen up. She had never had anyone do anything like that before. (long story, but she didn't have much of a relationship with her mom, ( ie. she didn't even want her to know she was pregnant) Crystal and I had many good discussion on our way home from work. Her husband was an atheist and she just couldn't believe anything I told her about Jesus. I shared a lot with her about how we survived Shauns death and how close Jesus held us during that time. I shared with her my visions of Shaun in heaven as well as the peace that only God can give-- etc....etc.... We talked a lot. She loved my girls and they went to her house to watch movies, baby sit, etc. Her oldest son was born the day after Shauns birthday. (I prayed that he wouldn't be born on Shauns birthday), I did tell her that later. Jaden is now 51/2 and started school. (Brooke is feeling old now!!) I asked many people to pray for her, she did come to church with us a few times. I usually do not work on Sundays but it was a busy day with good tips and she need the money so we often babysit Jaden on Sunday, She soon became pregnant again, and soon after found out that her husband was having a affair. When Ethan was but a few weeks old she brought him down to our house and Dave watched him as she moved out. (Eventually there was a divorce) We continued to keep in touch for a while as she struggled to make ends meet and she eventually moved away. Last October she got married on the beach in Florida, Jon loves her and the boys (Their dad has very little contact with them). But the most exciting thing is that Chrystal is now a Christian, raising those precious boys in a Christan home. WOW, She knows that being a Christan doesn't mean life will be great, she does know that no matter what the future holds for her and her family, God will walk with them. Her in laws are buying them plane tickets to come back to this areas for Christmas. She wanted to let us know so that we can make plans to spend a bit of time with them. I am so excited. We will be in Iowa seeing Daves family for a few days, but they are staying here longer than we will be gone. So we should get to see them. To think that God used me, to love her and to help her see her need for Him is humbling and exciting. Thank you Jesus !! I love having bare feet because my socks are blessed off!!!!!!!!

I love my husband too

So Dave wanted to see what I was doing on the computer and I realized that I didn't even mention the man of my dreams- The man whom I have loved for years, who is my rock. I wouldn't be who I am today with out him. Dave is awesome I really love him. We met at Hesston College in Kansas way back in 1977. We had a youth ministries class together, He reminded me of my brother Dave (although they are nothing alike). On our first date we went to a drive in with some great college friends Brian and Judy- we saw the pink panther, anyway Dave was so nervous he couldn't talk by the end of the evening. (He will still deny this to this day but I know it is true, he will say something lame like he was getting sick --but he never did) He asked me to marry him a few months later. I said yes, (obviously) We have had many good years together and a few tough ones. We were married 27 years in April, Wow 27 years. God has always been the center of our relationship and marriage. We have had our differences, but have always been able to work those out. We have laughed (and cried) a lot together, and usually try to see the positive side to our situations. When I can't see it sometimes Dave can, when He can't see it I often can. Together we have almost raised 3 great independent Christian kids, (our goal as parents, believe me seeing them grow up and leave home is great, burying them really sucks!!) together we buried our first born son when he was 16, (Our living kids have all outlived there older brother) We have buried Daves mom a year before we got married, and my two stepfathers, one in April 1988 and the other this past February. (My "real" dad died when I was 4). We have celebrated the high school graduation of our middle 2 kids and are looking forward to Brookes in May. We celebrated with Jessica and Jeremy as they wed, it will be 2 years in December. We are best of friends through thick and thin. Did I say he is Awesome and I love him more today than ever!! The more men I meet, the more I know that God put us together. Thank you Lord for my great husband!!

I love all my kids

So Brooke set me up with my own blog space today if you read my profile you can see that it is all about her. I am sure I will change it at some point, but it is ok for now, or at least until my other living kids find out about it. Caleb thinks blogs are stupid and Jessica doesn't spend much time on the computer (She leaves that to her husband) so I think I am good for a while. Although I imagine that Brooke will be sure that they find out about it anyway. That is just the kind of little sister she is. Shaun is my oldest son and my only perfect child (sorry Brooke) He has been with Jesus since September 11, 1998. He wasn't perfect while he was here, but he is now!

Caleb is home from Hesston College for fall break this weekend and even though I haven't seen him a whole lot, I love having him here. He heads back to Kansas on Tuesday. He brought three girls home!?! They all had plans to go to Colorado together but those fell through. I am glad that he felt free to bring them here. Two of them left and are spending part of the time in Kidron where one of those two are from, the other girl is from Belgium and is my sisters neice so she is at her house. I imagine they will all be back here come Monday evening so they can head back to Hesston Tuesday morning. I think that Caleb has his days and night mixed up, He seems to sleep until sometime in the afternoon, then he stays up until early morning. Kinda reminds me of when he was first born, I thought he out grew it, now it is back :-)

Brooke spent Thurday night at Bluffton College where she is planning to attend next year I think over all it was a good experience for her she wasn't paired up with the type of person she would be close friends with, if you know Brooke, she still made the best of it.

The picture Brooke choose of me was taken summer 1979. I was roofing with out a nail gun!! Spent that summer in Texas with Mennonite Disaster Service, cleaning up after a large tornado.
Nothing much else to say right now I will post again when I have something exciting to say, Well maybe I shouldn't say that. According to my kids my life is pretty dull and if that was the case I would never post again. But I will come up with something sometime. I will leave you with these wise words.

People are often unreasonable and self-centered.
FORGIVE THEM ANYWAY.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives.
BE KIND ANYWAY.
If you are honest, people may cheat you.
BE HONEST ANYWAY
If you find happiness, people may be jealous.
BE HAPPY ANYWAY.
The good you do today, may be forgotten tomorrow.
DO GOOD ANYWAY.
Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough.
GIVE YOUR BEST ANYWAY.
For you see, in the end, it is between you and God.
IT WAS NEVER BETWEEN YOU AND THEM ANYWAY.
-Mother Teresa

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